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Is your child’s attention span longer than a goldfish?

According to a recent study, a goldfish has an attention span of nine seconds, while most people lose concentration after only eight.

In the early 2000s (the dawn of the smartphone), that number was higher at 12 seconds. Researchers think this may indicate that our constant use of digital technology is actually reshaping our brains and shrinking our attention.

So what’s the most important thing we can teach our kids in this age of social media, texting and instant information?

I think the skill that will incline people to greater success in this generation is the ability to focus.

They need to learn other things as well, of course. But consider some ideas I recently read about: The blockage in education used to be access to information. For example, if you lived in England in the year 1500, you'd be lucky to know how to read, let alone own a single book or live near a library.

But today your children probably have more information at their fingertips than they could ever use. They have books and the internet at their disposal. A quick Google search can yield information about nearly anything. But many children today are unable to effectively use this information because they are not learning how to concentrate.

I know some high school students who think they can do good scholarly work while texting constantly with friends and checking Facebook every two minutes. In fact, the average young adult in America checks his smart phone 74 times a day (read more). I don't believe that serves them well. Rather, I believe we must help our kids learn how to purposely avoid constant interruptions, to stand against the barrage of information … and actually focus on the task at hand.

I read a fascinating article about this in The Wall Street Journal titled "Learning How to Focus on Focus." The subtitle says it all: "In an age of information overload, simply paying attention is the hardest thing." I wish I could let you read it all, but the full article, apparently, is only available to subscribers.

The author, Jonah Lehrer, refers to "executive function," which he defines as "a collection of cognitive skills that allow us to exert control over our thoughts and impulses." He cites studies that suggest that people who learned to regulate their impulses as children (e.g., sitting and focusing on homework instead of running over to watch TV), were far less likely to reach extremes such as becoming criminals or being addicted to drugs later in life. In fact, Lehrer says, "In many instances, the ability to utilize executive control was more predictive of adult outcomes than either IQ scores or socioeconomic status."

That's good news to me. Why? Because regardless of children's natural IQ or socioeconomic position, we can definitely help them increase their ability to concentrate. Parents can help children do this through activities that require them to focus. (And by turning off the TV, cell phone and computer while they concentrate.)

I love this quote from the article:

Given the age in which we live, it makes no sense to obsess over the memorization of facts that can be looked up on a smartphone. It's not enough to drill kids in arithmetic and hope that they develop delayed gratification by accident. We need to teach the skills of executive function directly and creatively.

The article suggests that activities like art, physical exercise, martial arts and difficult board games can all help children increase their ability to focus. I've seen 7-year-olds fall in love with chess and play games that last for hours. And let me tell you, when children become that engrossed in thinking, good things happen in their brains.

In our family, Justin played chess for hours as a very young child, Jonelle loved working jigsaw puzzles, Luke filmed movies, and Amy read. They still continue these hobbies to this day!

I'd also like to encourage you to limit the number of distractions your children regularly encounter.

It is perfectly reasonable to ask your children to sit down and work without access to electronic distractions. That skill alone will help your children their entire lives.

One of the benefits of a literature-based education is that the very process of learning together through real books is shaping your children’s brains for the better each day and giving your whole family a deep dive into the world of ideas—a respite from swimming in the shallows of social media and the constant stimulation of the digital world.

When we limit access to devices and build positive relational time around good books, we are cultivating a love for something truly good for our students. We aren’t just removing screens, but filling their minds and hearts with the good stuff that will serve as a springboard not only for imagination, creativity and critical thinking, but also the rare discipline of full attention.

So what do you think? Do parents today have to work harder to help their children learn delayed gratification and focus? What has helped your own children learn to block out distractions and concentrate?

Israeli actress Gal Godot has shown super powers both on and off screen

Gal Godot's psychical appearance alone would seem to make her the perfect choice to play "Wonder Woman". But a deeper look at the Israeli actress’ background could give someone the impression that she’s not all the far from being an actual superhero.

An Amazing Past

Born in 1985 in Israel to European immigrant parents, and the maternal granddaughter of Holocaust survivors, #Gal Godot (first name is pronounced like “doll” and her last name like “float”) showed an early aptitude for sports. Growing to be 5'10”, she became quite good at volleyball, basketball, and tennis. As with all Israeli citizens, upon graduating high school she served a mandatory two-year commitment with the IDF (Israeli Defense Forces).

The IDF made good use of her athletic ability, making her an athletic trainer. She instructed soldiers in calisthenics and the unique IDF martial art of Krav Maga. During her military service, she managed to find the time to enter and win the 2004 Miss Israel pageant representing her home country in Ecuador in the Miss Universe pageant that year.

Upon completion of her service in 2005 she used her success in the Miss Israel pageant to become a model and actress while also pursuing a law degree. Acting success came slowly with a role on an Israeli drama and small parts in Hollywood films. She was almost cast as the female lead in the 2008 James Bond film Quantum of Solace eventually losing out to Olga Kurylenko.

Acting career gets a high-octane boost

That same year, however, her film career began to accelerate with her being cast as Gisele in the fifth film of the "Fast & Furious" franchise, a role she would repeat in the series' next two entries in 2013 and 2015.

This high profile opportunity would lead to her first appearance as #Wonder Woman in 2016's "Batman vs. Superman". Despite the film's poor performance, Godot was praised by both critics and fans for her portrayal of the Amazon princess.

Strong role model

Godot’s biography is probably worthy of a movie itself, but what truly makes her a wonder woman goes beyond her amazing past. She is an avid lover of motorcycles, has done all her own stunts in both appearances as Wonder Woman, including reshooting much of the end of the current "Wonder Woman" movie while 5 months pregnant with her second child with husband, Israeli real estate developer Yaron Varsano.

She has also managed the amazing feat of being a great feminist role model without wearing it on her sleeve. She has shown how strong a woman, or anybody for that matter, can be by simply letting her actions and attitude speak for themselves. She openly admits taking as much pride in being a wife and mother more than an actress or model. When asked her philosophy on parenting she said, “Once you become a mother you always have a guilt trip. You always try to do the best, but you feel you can always do better.” And she has done it with more class than many in the entertainment industry today.

In a world of “I wants” and “Can I haves?” it can be daunting for parents to raise grateful kids.

I get it. As a mom of two boys, I’ve watched and learned (sometimes the hard way) how our society is now seemingly pre-dispositioning kids to feel entitled to have it all, simply because “everyone else does.”

Does having the latest and greatest gadget make them better people? No. But what will is raising them to be grateful not just for what they have, but for the opportunities that are available to them.

When we cater to kids’ every whim, from packing their favorite hard-to-come-by treat in lunches to ensuring they always have the latest smartphone, kids feel entitled to the niceties of life.

To help kids feel grateful for what they have, try doing without. Figure out what your family can do without for a week or a month. Is it eating out? Turning on the TV? Air conditioning? Cutting back on some conveniences may not seem comfortable at first, but it’s a great way to do a family appreciation check for what you do have, and foster empathy for those who do without.

2. Make service part of your schedule.

We all have grand plans to volunteer with our kids, but the reality is that life gets in the way of our good intentions. Like most things in life, unless we put service on the calendar, chances are it won’t get done.

Teach your kids the importance of service by putting it on the calendar — just once a month. Brainstorm activities that feel like a good fit for your family all year around, not just during the holidays. Your kids may enjoy playing board games with nursing home neighbors, making a meal at the Ronald McDonald house, or cleaning up a park. The ideas are endless — and the rewards are life altering!

3. Verbalize the silver linings.

If a long line at the drive-through sends your kids into a tailspin, or if a soccer game getting rained out is “seriously, like the end of the world," then it's time to talk about silver linings.

That means looking for your own silver linings in tough situations and sharing them with your kids. For example, “I have to work Saturday, but the extra income means we can do a little something fun next week.” Or when the thunderstorm kicks up on the way home from the store, “Well, I guess we can cross ‘washing the car’ off the to-do list today!” Finding the lesson, the blessing, or the humor in less than ideal situations will teach your kids to be grateful with whatever life throws their way.

4. Explore the “What if’s?”

One of the most powerful ways to foster an attitude of gratitude is to let your kids explore the realities of those who make do without.

During a family meeting or after your service time, ask your kids the tough “What if…” questions. What if you had to stand in line for a meal? What if you didn’t have a place to sleep? What if you had an illness and couldn’t afford to go to the doctor? Without getting too preachy, explore the “what if’s” and let them discover just how good they have it.

5. Give genuine thanks out loud.

If we expect our kids to live lives steeped in gratitude, we need to step up our game as parents. That means generously thanking everyone who interacts with us in positive ways — from the grocery bagger, to the gentleman who holds the door, to the waiter at lunch.

Use specifics such as, “Hey, thanks for making sure those eggs didn’t go on the bottom of the bag!” Or, the next time you’re at a restaurant and you enjoy great service, take a minute to ask for the manager and let them know your server was terrific. Your kids will be amazed at how one small act can lift someone’s whole day.

6. Make gratitude part of the daily routine.

According to research, grateful people are among the happiest. So make gratitude a staple at your family dining table. Take time at meals to say three things out loud that you’re thankful for. Or, create a gratitude jar and pull from it to help count blessings. With practice, gratitude will eventually become a permanent part of your kids’ attitude.

7. Shift your perspective.

One of my most profound lessons in gratitude was when I learned to stop saying “I have to…” and start saying “I get to…”

For example: “I get to drive my kids to school.” “I get to watch my son play soccer.” This simple tweak will help you remember to be grateful for the little, mundane, sometimes frustrating moments of parenting.

And the best part: by hearing how you get to do all these things with your kids, you’ll be giving them a giant dose of self-worth and teaching them to turn their own “have to’s” into “get-to’s”.

It may be hard to imagine being attacked but it happens in the H-E-B area everyday. These attacks occur without warning and when individuals least expect it. It is extremely important for everyone to be prepared for times like these and that is why we take the subject of self defense very seriously.

By learning the basics of self defense you help prepare yourself for dangerous and unforeseen circumstances.

During this workshop you will learn:* Situational awareness* Vital parts of the body that are vulnerable and easy to attack* Basic strikes and kicks* Defenses for the most common attacks on women* Plus a whole lot more!

Please call or send us a private message in Facebook with your details to reserve your place.

Please feel free to share with your friends and family who you think would benefit from this workshop.

Our Summer Camps are already starting to book up! Your kids will love our fun themes and motivating life lessons. Each camp is limited to 30 kids so REGISTER TODAY.

Premier Martial Arts has 4 day camps to choose from, each themed and offer an amazing combination of martial arts, games, life skills, self-defense, team building, arts and crafts, and lots of fun!

Our camp instructors are full-time martial arts instructors with years of experience teaching children. We are committed to making sure your child has a fun and safe summer with us. You don't have to be a PMA member, and no prior martial arts experience is needed. Open to children 5-13.

Karate Kids: The Benefits of Martial Arts Training for Kids

By Alison Hendrie

With a bloodcurdling cry, your 6-year-old leaps into the air in a karate kick, raising your hair and blood pressure simultaneously. Before you panic and pad the walls, try channeling this urge into a martial arts class.

Activities like karate and tae kwon do are a fun way for both boys and girls to achieve fitness and focus. Some parents may think they also promote violence, but that’s a myth, according to experts. The martial arts actually help teach self-discipline and socialization skills. In fact, many parents whose children have attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) report great success with these programs because self-control and concentration are exactly the skills underdeveloped in ADHD kids.

A typical hour-long class begins and ends with a bow to the teacher, or master. After a warm-up, students practice the art’s particular skills, which may include kicks, punches and blocks. Each requires concentration and strict attention.

Progress is often marked by the belt system, which takes the beginner from a white belt through a variety of colors until black. Testing for each new level, generally every three months, is a good exercise in setting and achieving goals.

But, say experts, it’s the respect kids learn, whether from bowing or standing still and waiting for the next command, that can be the most important benefit: It often carries over into school, helping to improve behavior and even grades, according to recent research.

“Six is usually a good age to start classes,” says Mimi Johnson, M.D., a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics’ Committee on Sports Medicine and Fitness. By that time a child should have enough muscle control to punch and turn properly and safely—essential to getting a real kick out of the martial art he chooses.

ONE Superstar Angela Lee’s last fight against Natalie “Kilapino” Gonzales Hills was definitely a fight that ONE Championship fans and the MMA community around the world will remember. The minute both fighters touched gloves, Natalie Hills immediately engaged by landing some solid strikes on Angela.

The crowd in the Singapore Indoor Stadium went wild as their favored fighter appeared to be on the losing end of the match. Unfortunately for Natalie Gonzales Hills, Angela Lee is even better on her back than she is on her feet. The submission artist quickly put her Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Brown Belt skills to work and executed a perfect scissor sweep that gave her the dominant position.

As Natalie attempted to recover, Angela managed a swift soccer kick that made Natalie sit up in panic.Angela passed her guard to secure the mount position and immediately landed several strikes from the top. From here, she would execute the first ever twister submission seen in ONE Championship history, solidifying her name as a true submission artist.

There’s something to be said about an MMA fighter who can’t stop smiling. From the moment she walks out into the arena in front of 15,000 screaming fans to the moment she steps into the cage, 19-year-old Angela Lee seems to be in a state of pure bliss. While other fighters seem to nervously pace around the cage before their fights, Angela appears completely zen.

“I’m just so happy to be here, to be fighting,” she says.

It’s hard to imagine Angela as anything but your typical teenage girl. Dressed in colorful culottes with her sun streaked hair pulled back in a ponytail, replete with her trademark dimples and bangs, Angela Lee could most certainly pass for a 17-year-old. However, behind her girl-next-door appearance is a highly decorated martial artist who’s been training and competing ever since she was 3 years old. Today, Angela has earned numerous accolades such as 2-time Pankration World Champion and a Wrestling State Champion. She also holds a 1st degree Black Belt in Taekwondo and TDS, and a Brown Belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

“My dad used to put me on the monkey bars and let me just hang there,” laughs Angela. “He would time me and see how long I could last. I was this little girl with really big, muscular shoulders and arms. It was so funny!” As funny as it seemed back then, 6th Degree Hapdosool Master Black Belt and 1st Degree Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt, Ken Lee always knew that giving his daughter an early head start would pay off someday.

As a martial artist himself, his greatest legacy would be passing on the benefits of martial arts to his children. Ken and his wife, Jewelz, a 5th Degree Hapdosool Master Black Belt, continuously encouraged Angela to practice martial arts despite Angela’s occasional protests. “There were days when I really didn’t want to train. I just wanted to hang out with my friends like other normal kids,” reveals Angela. “But I’m really grateful that my parents pushed me to do it. If I stopped, I wouldn’t be where I am today.”

While Angela’s father, Ken Lee is her coach, her mom, Jewelz, is how she stays in touch with her feminine side. “We talk about anything and everything, especially about cooking. We also love talking about girly stuff like weddings and babies,” shares Angela. “She’s also great at giving advice!”

Angela’s younger siblings, including 17-year-old Christian, 11-year-old Victoria and 9-year old Adrian are all martial artists as well. In fact, Christian is set to make his professional MMA debut this December at ONE: Spirit Of Champions. No one’s more excited about this debut than Angela, who considers herself Christian’s biggest supporter. Both of them have trained together all their lives, creating an unusual bond between the siblings.

“Christian’s been my best friend and favorite training partner ever since 1998 (the year he was born),” Angela explains. “We’re probably the closest pair of siblings you’ll ever meet.”

Growing up on the mats together, Angela and Christian were each other’s first training partners. Being the older sibling with more experience, Angela would always have the upper hand – up to the point Christian hit puberty. “When he turned 14, training definitely changed,” shares Angela. “Christian was finally bigger and stronger. Most of the time, he’d just let me win because he didn’t want to hurt my feelings. But I knew that he was just giving me a chance.” Finally, three years later, Angela would have her revenge over Christian. “We were grappling in Hawaii and I was able to get him in a choke! I just held on for dear life until he finally tapped. I was so happy!” Angela says.

Angela and Christian are so close that she considers herself to be Christian’s “mini-mom”. From changing diapers to reading bedtime stories, Angela’s bond with Christian is definitely something she treasures to this day. Because of this closeness, Angela admits that she’s quite the overprotective older sister over Christian. “Christian is the sweetest boy ever,” Angela says. “He’s really caring and sensitive so he always manages to end up with girls that aren’t so nice. I just want what’s best for him. And sometimes, I don’t say such nice things about these girls to Christian. He really deserves so much better!”

Apart from training together, Angela and Christian also enjoy watching movies and going to the beach together.

“Christian doesn’t mind watching chick flicks, like A Walk To Remember, The Notebook.He’ll watch it all and enjoy it!” Angela shares.

Ken and Jewelz Lee have always stressed the importance of family and togetherness in raising their four children. As a result, they’ve become quite the tight knit family. In fact, Angela and Christian consider themselves practically the second set of parents to their younger siblings Victoria and Adrian. “If you want to know what I was like when I was a kid, I would probably be a lot like Adrian. He’s really cheeky and naughty while Victoria’s more like Christian.” Angela says. She also talks about how talented they are, especially Victoria. “Victoria was so much better than I was at her age,” explains Angela. “She does all the same things Christian and I do. I could definitely see her being the next MMA superstar.”

Angela is also extremely close to her grandparents. After growing up with them around in Canada and having them visit frequently in Hawaii, Angela says they’re definitely a big part of her life. In fact, she says her grandparents are the reason she loves Singapore and Singaporean food so much! Angela’s grandparents are also her biggest fans, especially her grandfather. “Both of them watched my last fight in Singapore,” says Angela. “My grandfather was all pumped up but my grandmother was worried the entire time. In fact, she claims I almost gave her a heart attack!”

The martial arts training she’s had for the past 16 years has undoubtedly helped her MMA career. It has given her an edge over her competition, who don’t have the amount of training Angela’s had. Her youth also is a great advantage, giving most people the impression that she’s just a newbie. “Everyone who sees me at first thinks, wow, you’re 19? You must be so new at this!” Angela reveals. “Then I tell them how long I’ve been training and they just get shocked!”

There’s no doubt that martial arts has played a big role in Angela’s life. In fact, she credits martial arts for teaching her valuable lessons such as humility, continuous self-improvement, respect, and mental toughness. These are lessons she believes she wouldn’t have learned from any other sport.

“There are many things that I can correlate to martial arts in my everyday life,” Angela explains. “In my senior year of high school, I graduated with honors. I think the discipline and organizational skills I learned from martial arts played a big role in that.”

After winning the World Pankration Athlima Federation Junior World Championship at 16, Angela knew that she wanted to be an MMA fighter. As rare as it is to find one’s passion at such a young age, it is equally rare to find someone as calm and composed as Angela is inside the MMA cage.

“After all those years of training, competitions, and tournaments, you could say I’m a game day kind of girl,” Angela reveals,” When I’m in the cage, I feel so comfortable. It’s like this is what I was meant to do.”

Angela also attributes her ability to focus and concentrate inside the cage to her inspiration and hero, former UFC Women’s Bantamweight World Champion Ronda Rousey. Despite Ronda’s shocking loss, Angela still believes that the former champion will be back stronger than ever. “Every competitive person knows what it’s like to feel a loss. To get belittled, made fun of the way Ronda has is horrible. It’s bullying!” says Angela.

In fact, Angela uses Ronda’s loss as motivation for her next MMA fight. “I’ll be a different fighter in my next fight; I’ve learned not to underestimate my opponent. I’ll go back to my old game plan and focus on my strengths instead. Like my dad said, everything else will come in time so I don’t need to rush anything,” Angela shares.

Fast forward to 2015 – Angela is now one of the fastest rising stars in women’s MMA and ONE Championship. She’s also gathered quite the fan base.

“I’m flattered, but I think I’m still the same girl I was three years ago when nobody knew me,” says Angela.

She’s been recognized at the most random places: on the streets, on the MRT, and most recently, at a bubble tea shop. “The attendant asked me, are you Angela Lee?” she shares, “When I said yes, he just stared at me like he didn’t believe me. It’s really been so surreal.”

As a ONE Superstar and member of the Evolve Fight Team, Angela’s life has completely changed. Being in the spotlight means she has less privacy with intimate details about her life revealed for the world to devour. She admits it’s been difficult for her family, especially her boyfriend, but she knows it’s a small price to pay in the pursuit of her dreams. “It’s just awesome to be able to do what I love to do,” Angela admits.

At the age 19, Angela has had to move half way across the globe to pursue her dreams as an MMA fighter, leaving Hawaii and her old gym behind. It’s been difficult for Angela, especially since she’s lived in Hawaii almost her whole life. “Everything I’ve ever known is in Hawaii,” says Angela. “I miss my friends, the food, driving around in my truck, going to the beach – life in Singapore is just so different.”

Every martial artist knows how painful it can be to leave your training partners behind, especially after training with them on a daily basis for so many years. “They’ve become my best friends,” explains Angela. “I’ve become closer to my training partners than any of my girlfriends from school. You have this special bond with them and they just understand you.”

She also misses her dog, Maximus, an American Pitbull Angela bought together with her boyfriend. A self-confessed dog lover, Angela admits that she often speaks to her dog on Facetime, even if he doesn’t recognize her or her voice. “I miss taking Max out for walks. Bobby and I used to take him out everyday to the park and we’d have picnics. I really miss those little things!” Angela says wistfully.

And just like any teenage girl, Angela is madly and desperately in love with her longtime boyfriend. At 19, it’s especially hard to imagine being apart from your first love, but Angela knows that it’s all worth it in the end. “You remember the things you used to take for granted. Car rides to the beach, watching movies — just being together. It really makes me sad,” shares Angela.

“When I found out I was fighting in December, I was so happy. Then all of a sudden, I got really sad. I realized that it would mean two more months away from my boyfriend and then I started feeling really homesick,” Angela explains. ”But then my dad said that my boyfriend could come visit in December and that changed everything.” What’s Angela’s advice for keeping a long distance relationship alive? “Talk everyday! Skype, Facetime, iMessage — communication is the key to keeping any relationship strong, regardless of whether you’re in the same country or not,” says Angela.

The maturity and humility with which Angela conducts herself in and out of the ONE Championship cage are simply beyond her years. Perhaps it is the strong bond that she has with her family that has had such a great influence on her attitude. Facing constant bouts of homesickness and heartache isn’t easy, especially for someone who needs total focus and concentration for those 15 minutes inside the cage.

However, one often forgets that Angela has been training martial arts for over a decade. This has helped her forge a warrior spirit that will continue to guide her through whatever problems she may face. The future certainly looks bright for Angela Lee and we just can’t wait to see what else lies behind that megawatt smile of hers.

Catch Angela Lee as she returns to the cage in ONE: Spirit of Champions on December 11 in Manila, Philippines!

We are ready to showcase our NEW LOCATION!

The new location offers a flexible schedule, affordable memberships, 3 custom-designed training floors, family plans for 3-5 members, communication systems which include newsletters, social media, and text alerts for weather closings. Most of all Premier Martial Arts Texas is focused on results! Kids programs instill values of respect, focus, self-discipline, leadership, and more! Adults learn the skills necessary to protect themselves and their loved ones, and at the same time lose weight and get into the best shape of their lives.

So find out why Premier Martial Arts is the best choice for Tarrant County families.

The Grand Opening Celebration is Saturday December 19th10am – 2pm. Bring your friends and family and drop in for FREE classes, FREE Board Breaking, FREE Food, and a chance to win some terrific prizes. Plus FREE kids uniform to those that call to reserve a spot.

Premier Martial Arts Texas is family owned and operated by Bryce and Kim Ligeti, locals who grew up here and attended UTA and TCU. After starting from their garage, they opened their first studio in North Richland Hills in 2009. They have enjoyed the past 7 years of growth and look forward to expanding their business in Bedford.

Since 2011, they have partnered with more than 23 local Elementary Schools to provide free workshops that teach kids the importance of focus, confidence, and goal setting. They also offer workshops called KID SAFE and BULLY PROOF. They are supported by the non-profit organization called “Premier KIDZ Foundation”, so there is absolutely no cost to the schools for the presentations.

The vision of Premier Martial Arts is to build a community by helping people stay safe and get in shape, while instilling the life skills and character of a true martial artist. These skills lead to remarkable improvements in academics, careers, and relationships, literally making a better community one black belt at a time!

Holiday Sale THIS WEEKEND!

This Saturday stop by and check out over 100 gift ideas. Shop small and support our program instead of Amazon and Walmart!

These kinds of gifts are better than any toy or game. A new uniform or shirt helps a child feel more confident. If you look good with a uniform that fits, you feel great!

Any target pads, punching bag, or a new weapon like Bo Staff, Chuck, or Sword may be the little thing that motivates your child to practice more at home. This helps rekindle their motivation and helps build the habit of success.

Ideas: • New Uniform if you've grown out of it.• New limited edition Bo Staff or Nunchucks for the kids who love training weapons.• Training Equipment for practicing at home.• Picture Frames, DVDs, Books, Belt Displays, and 100 gift ideas that won't break the bank.• Give the gift of martial arts to a niece, nephew, or friend with a nice gift card and uniform wrapped under the tree.• Join the Black Belt Training Program or Premier Team and gift-wrap your equipment for the holidays!• Punching bags, Target pads, anything martial arts related we can get year round.

We are getting closer and closer to moving into our new location! After an unexpected construction delay, we’re happy to announce the first day of classes at the new location is November 23.

We are so grateful to our staff, students, parents, grandparents who have volunteered countless hours of cleaning, scraping, lifting, and other strenuous jobs to get the new school ready. We thank you for your loyalty, enthusiasm and tireless efforts!

We feel blessed to have experienced growth the last several years and can’t wait to continue to expand in the H-E-B area! The new space is more modern and will allow our customers, students and staff more space. The parking lot is much bigger too! Our new address is in Bedford on 201 Harwood Road, Suite 124 right beside Bicycles, Inc. and Whirlyball. In planning for our move there will be no interruption of classes.

A grand opening is scheduled for Saturday, Dec 19. We invite you and your friends to come help us celebrate the new location! We hope you’ll be able to attend.

2016 is going to be awesome! We really appreciate each member’s support of our programs and look forward to helping you continue achieving Premier Results. Let us know if there's anything we can do to help you succeed.

Also with Veteran’s Day approaching Nov 11, we want to thank all our veterans and their families for their service and the sacrifices made for our freedom.

NOVEMBER NEWS

HUGE Holiday Sale – 3 Hours Only!

Saturday, November 21, 11am-2pm

Our sale will be at the new location! Come get the lowest prices of the year for 3 HOURS ONLY - we'll also have food, fellowship and fun! Everything will be on sale from training equipment, Black Belt Training Packages, Black Belt & Premier Training Memberships, Winter Hoodies & apparel, New Uniforms, limited edition Weapons, T-shirts, punching bags, mats and tons of Gift Ideas!! Used PMA equipment will be discounted up to 40% off! Premier Gift Cards now available!

Holiday Closings

November 26, 27, 28 no regular classes.

(Sign up for our special holiday seminar)

Kids Programs

Black Belt Excellence lesson for November: Respect

We should all show respect for life, property, parents, elderly, those in authority, nature, and the beliefs and rights of others. Courtesy, politeness, and good manners is always a sign that you are showing respect.

BBE homework sheet is due no later than Nov 14th.

Stripe Test:

Week of Nov 30th

Focus of the Month: FOCUS

Stripe Color: BLACK

Stripe Tests are held the 5th and 10th week of each graduation cycle. In order to be eligible to test all colored belts must have 5 stripes, all white belts must have 3 stripes.

New to PMA? Students and parents, this is your opportunity to meet other new students and parents, learn about PMA, eat FREE PIZZA, and have lots of FUN. Intended for White, Yellow, and Orange Belts. Bring a Buddy - it’s FREE for everyone!

Turkey Burn Workout

Saturday Nov 28th 9am-10am

Let us help you burn Thanksgiving dinner off with our special "Turkey Burn" kickboxing workout! FREE to all members.